I remember back in elementary school hatching Monarch butterflies in science class and being fascinated with how colorful they were. Their classic black polka-dotted orange wings are still a vivid image today and are a common sight to see in North America. These butterflies are of the milkweed family, a name based on their habit of laying eggs on the milkweed plant which nourishes these creatured as they turn from Monarch caterpillar to adult butterfly. Similar to the Monarch, the Purple Crow Butterfly (genus Euploea) also falls under the milkweed family umbrella. However, unlike their distant relatives located halfway across the world, this species native to Taiwan is known instead for its black sheen that turns a brilliant purple in the sunlight. Belonging to four subspecies, crow butterflies all have one thing in common – they call Taiwan home!
